Spill-Proof Bubble Solution Container

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a reusable/disposable low cost spill-proof bubble solution container apparatus that eliminates accidental spillage of bubble solution and that may be provided in a compact kit form for the use and enjoyment by several users simultaneously. The apparatus in kit form has a plurality of nested container upper portions, a plurality of nested container lower portions, a plurality of bubble wands, and a bottle of bubble solution contained preferably within a single package. The kit is preferably adapted such that a single compact low cost kit provides components such that multiple containers may be assembled with each container preferably having a bubble wand and such that bubble solution is provided such that each kit may be filled with bubble solution to a predetermined amount. Thus a single kit may provide a bubble solution container complete with solution and a bubble wand each for six different users.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This nonprovisional utility patent application claims the benefit under35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 61/669,066, filedJul. 7, 2012, which is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by thisreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to spill-proof containers and moreespecially to nestable vacuum formed spill-proof bubble solutioncontainers in kit form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ever since the commercialization of the spill-proof bubble solutioncontainer invention disclosed in the Schramm U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,046patent, spill-proof bubble solution containers have been widely popular,have become a standard in the industry and have provided autonomy andenjoyment for young children in creating bubbles without the mess thatotherwise occurs when using conventional bubble creation wands. Examplesof such containers are disclosed in the following patents andapplications, all of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,942,109, 7,524,230, 7,244,161, 6,857,928,6,638,131, 6,629,870, 6,595,822, 6,520,822, 6,386,138, 6,186,853,6,135,842, 6,015,327, 5,908,057, 5,832,969, 5,495,876, 5,304,085,5,246,046, 5,105,975, 5,088,950, 4,957,464, 4,840,597, 4,180,938,3,579,898, 2,858,639, RE42,610, RE39,443, RE36,131, 20110081821,20080289975, 20050130552, 20040084453, 20030155364, 20020187716,20020129763, 20010035413, D600,290, 12/539,803, 13,234,265, andEU0094532.

Over the years, many different embodiments of the spill-proof bubblesolution container have been produced by many different manufacturers.However, none such prior art spill-proof bubble solution containers havebeen vacuum formed or nestable so as to be able to be provided in anefficient kit form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a reusable/disposable low cost spill-proofbubble solution container apparatus that eliminates accidental spillageof bubble solution and that may be provided in a compact kit form forthe use and enjoyment by several users simultaneously. The apparatuspreferably defines a vacuum formed container upper portion having aninwardly extending open funnel, a vacuum formed container lower portionhaving a trough, a removable bubble wand having a bubble creationorifice, and bubble creation solution. In practice, a user may use thebubble wand to in immerse the bubble creation orifice in the bubblesolution and then withdraw the bubble wand from the container to blow abubble. However, even with the bubble wand removed from the container,the container can be oriented in any orientation without the bubblesolution container therein spilling out of the container. The apparatusis preferably provided in kit form having for instance a plurality ofnested container upper portions, a plurality of nested container lowerportions, a plurality of bubble wands, and a bottle of bubble solution.The kit is preferably adapted such that a single compact low cost kitprovides components such that multiple containers may be assembled witheach container preferably having a bubble wand and such that bubblesolution is provided such that each kit may be filled with bubblesolution to a predetermined amount. Thus for instance a single kit couldprovide for instance a bubble solution container complete with solutionand bubble wand each for six different users.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the spill-proofbubble solution container apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an orthographic sectional view of a first embodiment of thespill-proof bubble solution container apparatus taken substantiallyalong a vertical axis of the apparatus at location of section arrows 2in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an orthographic sectional view of a first embodiment of thespill-proof bubble solution container apparatus taken substantiallyalong a vertical axis of the apparatus at location of section arrows 3in FIG. 1, and;

FIG. 4 is a view of the kit of the spill-proof bubble solution containerapparatus showing side views of the bubble wands and the bubble creationsolution container and showing sectional views of nested container upperportions and nested container lower portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areincluded to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention can be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention inreviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature tableis provided below. It is noted that like features are like numberedthroughout all of the figures.

FEATURE TABLE # Feature # Feature 10 Spill-Proof bubble solution 14Spill-Proof bubble solution container apparatus container 20 Containerupper portion 22 Engagement flange 24 Side wall 26 Top 28 Funnel 30Funnel mouth 32 Funnel bowl 34 Funnel spout 36 Funnel inner opening 40Container lower portion 42 Base flange 44 Side wall 46 Engagement flange48 Land 50 Tapered bowl 52 Trough 60 Bubble wand 62 Handle 64 Stem 66Bubble creation orifice 70 Bubble solution bottle 72 Bubble solution 80Kit 82 Packaging

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3,the first embodiment of the invention is a spill-proof bubble solutioncontainer apparatus 10 for use in providing a low costreusable/disposable spill-proof bubble solution container apparatuscomprising a spill-proof bubble solution container 14, a bubble wand 60,and bubble solution 72. Spill-proof bubble solution container 14comprises container upper portion 20, and container lower portion 40.

Container upper portion 20 preferably defines a generally cylindricallycup shaped container upper portion having an engagement flange 22, aside wall 24, a top 26, and a funnel 28 which extends inwardly intocontainer upper portion 20. Funnel 28 further preferably defines afunnel having a funnel mouth 30, a funnel bowl 32, a funnel spout 34,and a funnel inner opening 36 positioned within container upper portion20. Engagement flange 22 is connected to side wall 24 which is connectedto top 26 which is connected to funnel mouth 30 which is connected tofunnel bowl 32 which is connected to funnel spout 34 which terminates infunnel inner opening 36. Container upper portion 20 is preferably vacuumformed (or thermoformed) from plastic sheet and may be at leastpartially transparent. Container upper portion 20 is preferably coloredan aesthetically pleasing color but may alternatively be clear.

Container lower portion 40 preferably defines a generally cylindricallycup shaped container lower portion having a base flange 42, a side wall44, an engagement flange 46, a land 48, a tapered bowl 50, and a trough52. Base flange 42 is connected to side wall 44 which is connected to anengagement flange 46 which is connected to land 48 which is connected totapered bowl 50 which is connected to trough 52. Container lower portion40 is preferably vacuum formed (or thermoformed) from plastic sheet andmay be at least partially transparent. Container lower portion 40 ispreferably colored an aesthetically pleasing color but may alternativelybe clear.

Bubble wand 60 preferably defines a generally elongated bubble wandhaving a handle 62, a stem 64, and bubble creation orifice 66. Handle 62is connected to stem 64 which is connected to bubble creation orifice66. Bubble wand 60 is preferably injection molded from plastic resin andmay be provided in one or several aesthetically pleasing colors.

Bubble solution bottle 70 preferably defines a standard bottle forcontaining bubble solution and preferably sealingly contains bubblesolution 72 therein. Bubble solution bottle 70 may be provided witheight ounces of bubble solution 72 or may be provided in greater orlesser amounts of bubble solution 72.

Spill-proof bubble solution container 14 is assembled such thatengagement flange 22 of container upper portion 20 and engagement flange46 of container lower portion 40 are snapped together such that asubstantially liquid-tight seal is formed connecting container upperportion 20 and container lower portion 40. It is noted that spill-proofbubble solution container 14 may include a maximum fill line or likeindicia thereon to indicate a level for a liquid quantity (the maximumspill-proof quantity) at or below which spill-proof bubble solutioncontainer 14 will not spill its liquid contents when oriented in anyorientation. Spill-proof bubble solution container apparatus 10 isprepared by pouring a predetermined amount of bubble solution 72 intofunnel bowl 32 and allowing bubble solution 72 to run down funnel spout34 in a metered fashion so as to approach but not exceed the maximumspill-proof quantity of bubble solution in spill-proof bubble solutioncontainer 14. It is noted that in a preferred embodiment, if thevolumetric capacity of funnel bowl 32 (e.g. even if funnel spout 34 wereplugged) equals or exceeds the maximum spill-proof quantity. Spill-proofbubble solution container apparatus 10 is further prepared by placingbubble wand 60 in spill-proof bubble solution container 14 by movingbubble creation orifice 66 through spout 34 and positioning bubblecreation orifice 66 in trough 52 so that bubble creation orifice 66 isimmersed in bubble solution 72. It is also noted that trough 52 ispreferably closely fitted or sized to bubble creation orifice 66 suchthat when creation orifice 66 is positioned in trough 52 there isminimal space between creation orifice 66 and trough 52 so as to enablethe spill-proof bubble solution container 14 to achieve a high bubblesolution consumption efficiency ratio (BSER). With spill-proof bubblesolution container apparatus 10 thus prepared, the user may repeatedlywithdraw bubble wand 60 from spill-proof bubble solution container 14,create bubbles, and reinsert bubble wand 60 into spill-proof bubblesolution container 14, all without spilling bubble solution 72 out ofspill-proof bubble solution container 14 regardless of the orientationof spill-proof bubble solution container 14.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 4, an additionalembodiment of the invention is a kit 80 for use in providing a separatelow cost reusable/disposable assembled container with a wand and bubblesolution for each of several different users comprising a plurality ofcontainer upper portions 20, a plurality of container lower portions 40,a plurality of bubble wands 60, bubble solution bottle 70 containingbubble solution 72, and packaging 82. Packaging 82 may define forinstance a paperboard box or a paperboard substrate with a plasticblister covering (i.e. plaster-pack). To minimize packing space,container upper portions 20 are preferably nested one within another asshown in FIG. 4. Further to minimize packing space, container lowerportions 40 are preferably nested one within another as shown in FIG. 4.All of nested container upper portions 20, nested container lowerportions 40, bubble wands 60, and bubble solution bottle 70, arepreferable compactly contained within packaging 82—e.g. within a singlepaperboard box or alternatively within a blister-pack suitable forhanging on a display rack. Kit 80 is ideal for a single low costpurchase such as for a party for young children wherein the purchaserdesires a low cost alternative for providing a separate spill-proofcontainer for each of several different users. Further, because of thelow construction cost, the containers may simply be disposed of aftersuch party. It is further noted that in a preferred embodiment, kit 80is provided with six (nested) container upper portions 20, with eachcontainer upper portion 20 being of a different (vacuum molded)transparent color, six (nested) container lower portions 40, with eachcontainer lower portion 40 being of a different (vacuum molded)transparent color and preferably each container lower portion 40corresponds to a different color of a container upper portion 20, andeach container lower portion 40 preferably having a maximum spill-proofquantity capacity of at least 1.5 ounces, bubble solution bottle 70having eight ounces of bubble solution 72, and six bubble wands 60, witheach bubble wand 60 being of a different (injection molded) color andpreferably each bubble wand 60 corresponds to a different color of acontainer upper portion 20. With a kit 80 of such configuration,container upper portions 20 and container lower portions 40 can beassembled to form six spill-proof bubble solution containers 14 witheach of the six spill-proof bubble solution containers 14 havingcorrespondingly colored container upper portions 20, container lowerportions 40, and bubble wands 60 or alternatively, the color of thecontainer upper portions 20, container lower portions 40, and bubblewands 60 may be mixed and matched in a variety of different colorconfigurations. Further with a kit 80 of such configuration, usingsingle bubble solution bottle 70, each spill-proof bubble solutioncontainer 14 could be filled with bubble solution 72 to at or near therespective maximum spill-proof quantity capacity.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A spill resistant bubble solution container for use in low cost spillresistant creation of bubbles, wherein said container comprises plasticsheet having a substantially uniform thickness.
 2. The container ofclaim 1, wherein said container includes an open funnel formed withinsaid container and extending into an inner cavity of said container. 3.The container of claim 1, wherein said container includes an firstcontainer portion and a second container portion, and wherein saidcontainer first portion is sealingly attachable and detachable to saidsecond container portion, and wherein said substantially uniformthickness defines a substantially uniform thickness of no greater than0.05 inches.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein said containerincludes an first container portion and a second container portion andwherein a first instance of at least one of said first container portionand a second container portion is nestable within a second instance ofat least one of said first container portion and a second containerportion.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein said container includes abubble creation device removably contained at least partially withinsaid container.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein said containerincludes bubble creation solution container therein.
 7. The container ofclaim 1, wherein said container includes an open opening and whereinwhen said container contains a liquid, said liquid is prevented fromrunning out of said container regardless of the orientation of saidcontainer.
 8. A kit for use in low cost spill resistant creation ofbubbles, said kit comprising a plurality of bubble solution containerfirst portions and a plurality of bubble solution container secondportions, wherein a bubble solution container first portion and a bubblesolution container second portion are combinable to form a bubblesolution container at least partially comprised of plastic sheet, eachof said first portion and said second portion having a substantiallyuniform thickness, and wherein a first bubble solution container firstportion is nested within a second bubble solution container firstportion, and wherein a first bubble solution container second portion isnested within a second bubble solution container second portion.
 9. Thekit of claim 8, wherein said substantially uniform thickness defines asubstantially uniform thickness of no greater than 0.05 inches.
 10. Thekit of claim 8, wherein said bubble solution container first portionincludes an open funnel formed within said bubble solution containerfirst portion and extending internally into said bubble solutioncontainer first portion.
 11. The kit of claim 8, wherein said kitincludes at least one a bubble creation device.
 12. The kit of claim 8,wherein said kit includes a quantity of bubble creation solution. 13.The kit of claim 8, wherein said formed a bubble solution containerincludes an open opening and wherein when said formed bubble solutioncontainer contains a liquid, said liquid is prevented from running outof said formed bubble solution container regardless of the orientationof said formed bubble solution container.
 14. A kit for use in low costspill resistant creation of bubbles, said kit comprising a plurality ofcontainer first portions, a plurality of container second portions, aplurality of bubble creation devices, and a quantity of bubble solution,wherein a container first portion and a container second portion arecombinable to form a container comprised of plastic sheet, and wherein afirst container first portion is nested within a second container firstportion, and wherein a first container second portion is nested within asecond container second portion, and wherein said container portions areconstructed of plastic sheet each having a substantially uniformthickness.
 15. The kit of claim 14, wherein said container first portionincludes an open funnel formed within said container first portion andextending internally into said container first portion.
 16. The kit ofclaim 14, wherein said formed container includes an open opening andwherein when said formed container contains a liquid, said liquid isprevented from running out of said formed container regardless of theorientation of said formed container.
 17. A kit for use in low costspill resistant creation of bubbles, said kit comprising a plurality ofbubble solution containers, a plurality of bubble creation devices, anda quantity of bubble solution, wherein said containers comprise plasticsheet having a substantially uniform thickness.
 18. The kit of claim 17,wherein said container defines a first container portion and a secondcontainer portion, and wherein said container first portions aresealingly attachable and detachable to said second container portions,and wherein a first instance of at least one of said first containerportion and a second container portion is nestable within a secondinstance of at least one of said first container portion and a secondcontainer portion, and wherein said substantially uniform thicknessdefines a substantially uniform thickness of no greater than 0.05inches.
 19. The kit of claim 17, wherein said bubble creation devicedefines a bubble wand.
 20. The kit of claim 17, wherein said bubblesolution container includes an open opening and wherein when said bubblesolution container contains a liquid, said liquid is prevented fromrunning out of said bubble solution container regardless of theorientation of said bubble solution container.